Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-07-20
Miseetlanep,ts &eaaimg.
AN OLD.TIME TRAGEDY.

AN OLD.TIME TRAGEDY.
On the 18th of December, 1912, the
United States brig Sonaers, Captain
Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, arriv-
ed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard from
the coast of Africa. She had sailed
from New York on the 18th of Sep
tember of the same year, with dis
patches for the squadron at that sta
tion, and left Cape Mesurado on the
10th of November on her homeward
voyage. Upon her arrival in New
York it was noticed that but little
communication was held on, the shore
and that upon the same daysan officer
from on board left for Washington.
Soon a rumor grew into certainty
that upon the homeward voyage Phil
ip Spencer, a midshipman and
sO1 of John Garfield Spencer, the then
Secretary of War Samuel Cromwell,
the acting boatswain of the ship, and
Elisha Smith, seaman, had been
hanged at the yard arm for mutiny.
Captain Mackenzie, through his in
huence in ths.nayy, he being con-
nected by marriage with the Perrys,
and the rallying of the commercial
classes, ever tender on the subject of
mutiny and having no feeling against
a captain either in the mercantile or
government marine in his favor, had
| for while the press of the metropo-
lis in his favor. He asked for court
of inquiry, which composed of three
senior captains in the navy, found
on the 10Th of July, 1843, that he and
his officers were completely justified
in the acts which resulted in the ex-
ecution. Then came reaction. The
papers connected with the political
party of which Secretary Spencer
was representative demanded fur
ther investigation, claiming that the
court of inquiry was packed for an
acquittal, and boldly accused the
commander of the Sonaers of murder,
and the partisan press on the other
side were as bitter in his defense.
Finally court-martial was ordered
by Secretary Upshur, of the Navy,
and began its session on the United
States Ship North Carolina on Febru-
ary 1, 1914, and continued in session
forty days, during which time nearly
every man and boy on board of the
brig from the commander down was
examined under oath. The charges
against Captain Mackenzie were muir
der on the high seas of the men
named, of insulting and taunting
Spencer when about to be executed
and of inficting cruel and unusual
punishment upon others of the crew.
The court was composed of eleven
post captains and two commanders.
Before the examination of witnesses
began Benjamin F. Butler, Attor-
ney General of the United States
under General Jackson, and Charles
O'Conor, of New York, asked per-
mission of the court to appear on
behalf of the relatives of Mr.. Spen-
Ger. This was refused.
THE STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
The testimony before the court
martial, which appears to have been
fairly conducted, whatever may be
The opinion as to its result, establish
ed these facts:
The Somers was a brig-rigged,
double-decked vessel, of 266 tons,
pierced for fourteen guns, but carry
ing only ten 32-pound carronades,
and manned with crew of 12O, in
Guiding officers, the majority of the
foremastmen being apprentices under
the age Of twenty.
Spencer, who was not quite 20 years
old, and who appears to have taken
pains to make himself a favorlte with
the crew by distribution of cigars,
tobacco and money, on the evening
of the 25th of November called J. w.
Wales, the purser's steward, forward,
and then, according to the latter's
testimony before the court-martial,
said to him: "Do you fear death
Dare you kill a person ?" Wales
having answered that he would not
hesitate to kill if circumstances de-
manded, Spencer then, after swearing
him to secrecy, told him that there
were twenty of the ships company
beside Spencer who had agreed to
murder the ships officers and take
the brig and begin pirating; that the
affray was to begin some night when
he (Spencer) had the middle watch
that there was to be a scutfie in the
forecastle and that he would bring
the men to the past and call MIR.
Rogers, the officer of the deck in that
watch, and as soon as he got to the
gangWa Way he was to be thrown over
board that the mutineers would
then station themselves at the hatch
es to keep any one from coming on
deck, he in the. meantime arming
them from the arm chests on the
quarterback, of which he had key
that he would then 60 into the cabin
and murder the commander and then,
with some of his men, 60 into the
ward room and murder the other
officers; that he would then have
two guns strewed around so as to
command the deck, call the whole
crew up, select such men as he
wanted and have the rest thrown
overheard; then clear the. deck OF
spare spars and rigging and OF
the launch, expecting to get these
when necessary from captured ves'
sells, and sail for Cape st. Antonio OF
the Isle of Pines, where man would
be taken on board familiar with the
business; then cruise for prizes
when a vessel was taken murder all
hands and sink her after taking out
what was valuable and if women
were on board to take them for the
use of the officers and men and when
tired Of them to make way with
them. The conversation with Spen-
Ger, Wales testified, lasted nearly
two hours and before it ended Spen'
Ger called Small to him and told him
that Wales was all right and one OF
them and Small appeared to be much
pleased at this.
The only corroboration before the
court martial of the testimony Of
Wales was that of seamen who saw
him and Spencer and Small in con-
versation on that occasion.
THE CONSPIRACY REVEALED.
Late on that evening Wales com.
municated the story to the pursel
who managed through the ships lieu
tenant to get it to Captain Macken.
zie's ear the same night. At even
ing quarters on the 26th, Spencer
while aft, was disarmed, double.
ironed, handcuffed and placed on the
port arm chest, and Small double.
,pI bo >, I'm, fFo1 onfl r,t,f 11nor